John Hall's medium dark blue pearlware "Quadrupeds" presents various animals and their habitats in scientific studies. Here the circular center medallion features the lion in natural setting complete with palm tree and distant prey. Four surrounding reserves are framed in elaborate shell and scrollwork frames, separated by floral and urn devices on a lattice ground. These four border reserves feature deer, goats, zebra and shetland ponies, again in natural habitat. A minute egg and dart border around the very edge of the plate finishes the pattern.

John Hall's "Quadrupeds" is an example of that late eighteenth/early nineteenth century fascination with natural science. This phenomenon, product of the age of enlightenment, was often found translated into the decorative objects of everyday life. One finds not only transfer patterns, like "Quadrupeds," but fabric and wallpaper prints and even shell shape vessels and plates.